2 Year Well Check

And the results are in...

Dannika is...

33 inches tall

and

27 pounds

She grew 2 3/4 inches since her 18 month well check!

The visit didn't go too well though :-(

Dr. Shannon is the COOLEST pediatrician EVER, and she has ALWAYS LOVED him.

I am EXTREMELY lucky that Dannika is covered under Tricare Prime so that I can take her to the pediatrician of my liking.

Dr. Shannon (Seaview Pediatrics) has been her doctor since she was a day old at CHOC Mission Viejo.

In fact...he has so much experience that there are young men I put in the Marine Corps who had him as THEIR pediatrician growing up!!!!

His style of medicine is SO laid back (he's like an old surfer dude).

He has a way with children and parents to put them at ease.

I've never freaked out about anything.

She was totally ok with him today until he touched her feet to check her hips.

Then it was downhill from there...

It didn't help when he sent his nurse in to give her the measles, mumps, and rubella shot...

OH LORDY.

Anyways...

Thanks Dr. Shannon for being so awesome!

I DEFINITELY coulda used Nick here today.

Hope you're having fun in the field, babe!

See ya soon!

DEUCE!

I came to the realization a LONG time ago that Nick and I have a marriage that will never be "normal".

I think it is safe to say that we have a pretty unique set of circumstances.

I am always prepared for the unexpected.

It didn't come as a surprise to me when I found out that Nick was going to the field on Dannika's Birthday.

I was a little crushed since he missed her 1st Birthday (he was in Afghanistan and you can read all about it here).

But as always, us Marines..{and Marine Wives} are tough...

So I "sucked" it up.

Dannika's big birthday party isn't till this Saturday, but I still wanted her day today to be special.

We started with breakfast this morning at Starbucks.

She loves chocolate milk, and I never let her have it. 

I got her a chocolate milk at Starbucks and a glazed donut.

She was in {{heaven}}

My day today at worked dragged on more than usual.

I just couldn't wait to go home and celebrate with my little lady.

Just the two of us...just like last year.

Her favorite food is mac and cheese so that's what she had for dinner.

I bought a small red velvet cake from the store on the way home from work for her to blow her candles out from.

 MMMM....WE LOVE MAC AND CHEESE!

I actually contemplated on giving her to whole cake, but the cake is HUGE so I cut her two tiny slices.

She DESTROYED her cake!

So at the end of the day...

It was a nice quiet day.

I spoiled her with sweets and gave her lots of lovin' (not that she doesn't get enough when it's NOT her Birthday!)

No sappy letter to  you here, Dannika Jane.

You know we love you.

You know we're so proud of you.

And you DEFINITELY know we think you're beautiful in every aspect of the word.

Happy Birthday, Dannika Jane...now please slow down a little with the growing up.

I kinda like you little...

The Last Day...

As a ONE year old {tear}

Remember this little girl?

This was taken on July 12, 2009 at 1227am.

Now she is this little girl...

just a few weeks shy of turning 2...

People tell me ALL THE TIME...
"They grow up so fast!"
I've always nodded and agreed and went about my day.
It never really hit me until these last few weeks.

Looking back, it really feels like just a few months ago when I was pregnant!
Now I have this beautiful little toddler on my hands.
She keeps my world full of good surprises.
She keeps me on my toes.
She reminds me to breathe.
She reminds me to enjoy life.
And she is a constant reminder of the love that I have for Nick.

She turns 2 tomorrow.
"The Terrible Twos" as some people call it...
But not to me.
It's the "Exciting Twos".
I'm excited to see what new things she discovers.
What new things she learns.
And what new life she'll bring to our lives.

******

I was totally upset today that Nick had to work super late.
Not cause he HAD to...
But because he has Marines that work for him that can't follow simple instructions.
I was even MORE upset at the fact that Nick will be in the field tomorrow for Dannika's ACTUAL Birthday.
I wanted tonight to be special.
Her "pre-Birthday Bash".
When I found out he was running late, I ordered pizza and tried to stay positive.
I made cinnamon oatmeal cookies for Dannika to take to all her friends at daycare.
We had our own little pizza/baking party.
I knew Nick felt horrible...

But as always...
He's a Superdad...
And he came to the rescue...

He stopped by the grocery store on his way home and got her an ice cream cake and a princess balloon!
Tomorrow, we're going over to Kim's house to celebrate with Kanoa and Devon since BOTH of our hubby's are in the field...
Her party is on Friday....
3 Birthday Celebrations...
What a lucky girl!

A Simple Thank You

I HATED recruiting duty...

HATED.

I hated it even more when Nick deployed to Afghanistan and left me to do it all alone with a newborn.

That's when I REALLY hated it.

My last year on recruiting was miserable. 

Recruiting duty is the SECOND reason in my life why I want to get out of the Corps...

The FIRST being my babygirl.

I got the sweetest email from one of my "kid's" mom today.

I recruited him when he was just 17 years old.

His mom and dad had to sign him over to ME.

And they trusted ME to take care of him.

They were tough one me.

I even remember the interview with them.

It was on a Sunday afternoon.

I brought Nick and Dannika with me.

They had so many questions and concerns.

Mom wasn't too happy that her ONLY son...her ONLY child had made the decision to serve his country.

But they trusted me, and trusted their son....

Here is the email I got today...

Hi Mrs. Romer how are you? Just to let you know that {our son} leaves to Afghanistan early tomorrow we could not go to North Carolina to see him I guess he didn't want to get emotional or to tell you the true we don't know, he'll be in Letherneck Camp.Can you tell me if you or your husband been in that place? I know he'll be fine but I'm nervous. I admire all of you as a Marine and as a wife Marine and I just wonder how do you deal with all this emotions and stuff when your husband is deploy. It's been hard on us because {he} is our only son but I'm glad he joined the Marines, his instructors in Camp Pendleton and 29 Palms told us that he's a good Marine and We see the change on him. I know i didn't want him to join and I owe you an apology for what I said and I think you remember why. I was scared and I didn't know much about the how good is to be in the Armed Forces, especially if you are a Marine. Thank you for recruiting my son . 

I have no desire to go back to recruiting or stay in...

but emails like this make me smile, and to know that i made a difference in one person's life is worth the horrific times I spent on recruiting....

Party Like It's 1999!

Everyone loves a long weekend!

I always look forward to the extra time I get to spend time with my family and the chance to relax and take a break from our hectic, busy lives.

Well this weekend was WAY different than most long weekends!

It was just a non-stop party for the Romers, and let me just say as I am typing this on July 5th at 1317...

We are beyond....BEYOND exhausted!!!

The weekend started off with a wedding in San Diego for our good friends Victoria and Gavin.

Nick was a groomsman and was also a part of the sword arch.

The wedding was absolutely beautiful and way too much fun!

Our friend Steve's parents were visiting from Missouri and graciously volunteered to watch our baby for us.

Nick and I got to really have some fun....

too much fun...

Like...we haven't partied that hard since we were 21? (we're almost 28 now).

Open bar for the whole reception...then a crazy night out at the gaslamp at the Whiskey Girl.

It's a night I think I'll remember for the rest of my life!

It was crazy, a little ridiculous, and SO FUN!

 Nick dancing with the bride. It looked like they had choreographed this dance and practiced.

 Doing the "Sprinkler". I believe by this point, people cleared the dance floor to make room for my husband and the bride.

Nick marching the sword detail out.

The day after the wedding, Nick and I went over to the Gilbert's house to go swimming and grill some ribs with Melissa, her boyfriend Mike, Jeff, and some of his friends.

We were so exhausted from partying, and it was really nice to relax in the pool.

Dannika had such a blast swimming!

I wish I had my camera to take pictures, but I was still delusional and probably slightly intoxicated from the night before.

Our 4th of July was awesome.

It was even more special cause we got to spend it with all of our Marine friends.

It was nice to have them home this year for the 4th and not deployed.

And of course....

The wonderful Digirolomo's hosted the 4th of July BBQ at their house.

Great food, great people, and of course booze...

Ugh...why do I never learn my lesson...lol.

I hope everyone had a fabulous long weekend!

Until next time...

My 4th of July pin up girl.

She's yelling "Jackson!"

Oh our children are silly.

The beautiful Becca

 Dannika's godmother flew out from Pensacola! Sarah was a part of the wedding, and Dannika was very excited to see her again. It's like she had never left. Dannika remembered her right away!